we had just a news conference today, the only republicans that came to the mike today came to the microphone to talk about entitlements here on the senate side, about medicare. they see that as the gaping hole in the united states budget and many of them are frustrated that so far there really has not been any specific plan from the white house to try and deal with it. also remember, unemployment benefits run out tomorrow. so the fiscal cliff actually starts tonight. >> jessica, it was an interesting statement put out recently by a republican thinker who said that he thinks the president -- peekispeaking of t president, there he is. >> good afternoon, everybody. for the past couple of months, i've been working with leaders of both parties to try and forge an agreement that would grow our economy and shrink the deficit, a balanced plan that would cut spending in a responsible way but also ask the wealthiest americans to pay a little more. and above all, protect our middle class and everybody who's striving to get into the middle class. i still want to get this done. it's the right thing to do